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Sunken Engine

Sunken Engine Game Cover
80%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, music
80% User Score Based on 317 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Sunken Engine Game Cover

About Sunken Engine

Sunken Engine is a single player management game with horror, mystery, thriller and business themes. It was developed by Two Nomads Studio and was released on October 16, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Sunken Engine is a Lovecraftian Ship Repair Simulator. Restore the old shipyard you inherited from your father. Every arriving ship carries a dark mystery waiting to be uncovered. While keeping your customers happy, you must also deal with the strange and eerie events happening on the island.

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Reviews

80%Audience ScoreBased on 317 reviews
story28 positive mentions
stability13 negative mentions
  • Engaging and satisfying gameplay loop combining ship cleaning, repair, fishing, and shop management with steady progression and upgrades.
  • Strong Lovecraftian atmosphere with a mysterious and intriguing story that unfolds through exploration and player discovery.
  • Active and responsive developers regularly update, patch bugs, and add meaningful content, demonstrating clear passion and commitment.
  • The game is currently buggy with issues including difficulty saving, UI glitches, clipping, soft locks, and occasional crashes.
  • Some core mechanics such as hammering, fishing, and minigames feel clunky, repetitive, or tedious, reducing long-term enjoyment.
  • Controversy around undisclosed use of AI-generated art for character models diminishes immersion and has caused dissatisfaction among players.

  • story

    106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    26% positive mentions, 69% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions

    The story is generally praised for being intriguing, well-written, and effectively blending Lovecraftian horror with a simulation setting, keeping players engaged despite its slow start and early access incompleteness. However, many users note that the narrative is unfinished, with progression currently limited and often tied to grinding gameplay, leading to pacing issues and a feeling of waiting for future updates to fully experience the plot. While the background lore and atmosphere are appreciated, some find the delivery through scattered notes cumbersome, expressing a desire for more polished, continuous storytelling and voice acting to enhance immersion.

    • “The story behind it is genuinely interesting, and the objectives strike a good balance — easy enough to complete without ever feeling like too much of a grind.”
    • “The story progressed in a way I didn’t expect, which made it even more engaging.”
    • “A beautiful, calming, but eerie Lovecraftian ship cleaning simulation with an interesting & compelling story.”
    • “The story is strange, the gameplay turns into constant grinding, and instead of relaxing you end up doing chores the whole time.”
    • “Essentially a big summary, this game is fun for your first hour or so, then quickly becomes a slog grind fest of repairing ships and dealing with bazaar customers to afford the next upgrade. The story is incomplete and based on this game dropping October 16th last year and taking 3 and a half months to get its first major update, of which the next major story update is another 2 major updates away. You're only going to be able to progress the story mid to late 2026, if all goes well.”
    • “I'm not going to mince words, here in the game's current state, do not buy this game. It's a grindy slog fest that has the same repetitive minigames, story being shoved into hundreds of notes scattered on ships or interactions with people instead of being funnelled into actually releasing the story.”

  • gameplay

    103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    40% positive mentions, 54% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The gameplay offers a satisfying, addictive loop centered around ship repair, upgrading, and task management, blending simulation mechanics with atmospheric horror elements. While some find the stress and sanity systems intriguing yet occasionally frustrating or underdeveloped, the core mechanics remain solid and engaging despite some bugs and early access roughness. Overall, the game balances chill, hands-on gameplay with eerie, Lovecraftian vibes, keeping players motivated through variety and progression.

    • “I really enjoyed the gameplay loop in this one; it was very satisfying cleaning the ships and upgrading things to make it all faster.”
    • “The gameplay loop has a rhythmic charm—clean, fix, upgrade, repeat—but it is never allowed to become too comfortable.”
    • “The mysteries, gameplay mechanics, and the way the upgrades keep things from feeling repetitive really pulled me in.”
    • “The story is strange, the gameplay turns into constant grinding, and instead of relaxing you end up doing chores the whole time.”
    • “Some bugs still present from day one (plank nail in terrain where hammer will phase through and drop off edge during repairs so have to do blind basically) and new diving mechanic brought back the issues with scrapping mechanic.”
    • “As the game goes on, it felt like there were fewer and fewer scares, and thus fewer and fewer causes for my sanity to drain (which is not a good thing when you offer an upgrade that helps your sanity last longer, as it basically means your pipe usage goes down, which isn't that a core gameplay mechanic?), aside from the late-night visits from possessed ships, which never varied in flavor.”

  • graphics

    37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    46% positive mentions, 46% neutral mentions, 8% negative mentions

    The graphics feature a unique, consistent art style that effectively complements the game's maritime horror atmosphere, creating strong immersion. While some note simplicity or minor unpolished elements, the overall aesthetic is praised for enhancing the gameplay experience and contributing to the game's distinctive mood.

    • “The art style is excellent and the storyline/play strikes a good balance between mystery, horror, and simulation.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the soundtrack fits perfectly, and the atmosphere kept me completely immersed.”
    • “From the visuals to the music, everything makes you feel like you're in the setting of an old-time shipyard of Lovecraftian horror.”
    • “The graphics are so bad and unpolished it feels like playing a student project from 1990.”
    • “This game needs a lot more content and better graphics or maybe some voice actors.”
    • “A minor complaint I have is the art style for the characters when I compare it to the demo, which gives me a different impression on how I thought it was gonna run. Granted this is early access so it might be subject to change.”

  • atmosphere

    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    60% positive mentions, 30% neutral mentions, 10% negative mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive, slow-burning, and cohesive Lovecraftian horror elements that blend seamlessly with ship repair simulation, creating a spooky yet engaging experience without relying on cheap jump scares. Its unique art style and soundtrack strongly enhance the eerie, unsettling mood, making routine tasks feel meaningful and atmospheric. Overall, players find the atmosphere captivating, authentic, and a key factor in the game's distinct charm and appeal.

    • “The atmosphere feels deliberate and cohesive without being too horrific or shocking, and it does a great job of drawing you into the world without relying on cheap jumpscares - it's a slow burn, like Lovecraft's work.”
    • “For players drawn to introspective, atmospheric experiences rather than pure mechanics or adrenaline, Sunken Engine delivers something rare: a sense of unease that lingers long after the last ship has left the dock and the sea has swallowed the sound of your tools.”
    • “The overall style and atmosphere of the game was the thing that attracted me most; the gritty, disturbing, and almost dirty style captivated me.”
    • “Even the smallest tasks carry a weight of atmosphere; cleaning grime from an engine part becomes an act of both maintenance and revelation, as if you’re peeling away the surface of something that shouldn’t be exposed.”
    • “It’s not a horror game filled with jump scares or constant danger; rather, its power lies in atmosphere and implication, in the slow erosion of what feels safe.”

  • stability

    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The game is notably buggy and unstable in its current early access state, with frequent glitches, crashes, and progression issues like unsaved progress. While these problems hinder gameplay, users acknowledge ongoing development and expect improvements as the game approaches a full release.

    • “Game is extremely buggy, and you literally can't save (lost over an hour of progress).”
    • “Really fun game but glitches quite often and every day my game freezes and forces me to restart the game to play the next day.”
    • “Way too many bugs, including a buggy interface.”

  • music

    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    33% positive mentions, 34% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions

    The music effectively complements the game's eerie, old-time shipyard atmosphere and Lovecraftian horror themes, enhancing immersion with fitting audio cues and a charming soundtrack. While some find it reminiscent yet watered-down compared to Obra Dinn's music, overall it is appreciated, with players expressing interest in extended versions. A few note an unusual, slightly off feeling, possibly due to AI-generated elements.

    • “From the visuals to the music, everything makes you feel like you're in the setting of an old-time shipyard of Lovecraftian horror.”
    • “The music and audio cues help immerse you into the game.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the soundtrack fits perfectly, and the atmosphere kept me completely immersed.”
    • “Seems like some of the music might be AI-generated.”
    • “The music is reminiscent of the music in Obra Dinn, but watered down.”
    • “I was starting to somewhat like it but I could never shake the feeling something was off with the music in the background after looking at it over and over.”

  • grinding

    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is widely seen as tedious and repetitive, involving the same minigames and slow tasks that detract from enjoyment. While some upgrades ease certain activities, many players find the overall experience a monotonous slog, though a few note that the grinding can feel rewarding and not overly burdensome.

    • “I'm not going to mince words, here in the game's current state, do not buy this game. It's a grindy slog fest with the same repetitive minigames, the story scattered in hundreds of notes on ships or interactions with people instead of being well integrated.”
    • “So story aside, you're left grinding the same minigames on ships at a certain point: repairing wiring, unscrewing and screwing lightbulbs, searching for bugged trash hidden behind a filing cabinet requiring janky methods to pick up, and doing the same number-pressing memory game with delays between sequences.”
    • “The story is strange, the gameplay turns into constant grinding, and instead of relaxing, you end up doing chores the whole time.”

  • optimization

    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    75% positive mentions, -50% neutral mentions, 75% negative mentions

    The game's optimization results are mixed: while some users experience smooth performance even on older hardware, others report stuttering, low frame rates, and lack of adjustable settings despite having strong PCs. Overall, optimization may vary depending on the system and potential updates.

    • “Other than that, the game runs fine on my 5 year old gaming laptop, so I suspect that either the game was optimized in an update, or some people just get mad when a game doesn't do 120 fps.”
    • “Cool game but really poorly optimized, I'm running a strong PC and it still only manages 30-40 fps at about 2k and there aren't any settings to change.”
    • “All in all, great little game, runs smoothly, and absolutely worth its current price.”
    • “Bazaar is not working at all and oysters are getting stuck in the air, game is constantly stuttering even with good FPS and V-Sync.”
    • “Cool game but really poorly optimized, I'm running a strong PC and it still only manages 30-40 FPS at about 2K and there aren't any settings to change.”
    • “Other than that, the game runs fine on my 5 year old gaming laptop, so I suspect that either the game was optimized in an update, or some people just get mad when a game doesn't do 120 FPS?”

  • emotional

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Players find the game deeply emotional, exploring themes of repair and confronting both physical and emotional decay. However, some users experienced frustration with controller sensitivity, which occasionally hindered gameplay and immersion.

    • “It’s a game about fixing things that perhaps were never meant to be repaired, about confronting decay both physical and emotional.”

  • humor

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is often highlighted through the entertaining and amusing negative reviews, with some users finding the AI-related critiques particularly funny. Overall, the humor seems to stem more from players' reactions than the game's intentional comedy.

  • character development

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Reviews highlight that the character designs are original and hand-crafted, not AI-generated, as confirmed by the developers' showcased creation process in updates. This dedication to authentic design supports a more meaningful character development experience.

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Play Times

7h Median play time
6h Average play time
3-9h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Sunken Engine is a management game with horror, mystery, thriller and business themes. Common tags for Sunken Engine include first-person, indie, world war i, life sim, war and others.

Sunken Engine is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Sunken Engine.

Sunken Engine was released on October 16, 2025.

Sunken Engine was developed by Two Nomads Studio.

Sunken Engine has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Sunken Engine for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Sunken Engine is a single player game.

Similar games include Dredge, Amber Isle, Bladesong, Chef RPG, Coffee Shop Tycoon and others.